"Usually the Mozart opera characters are clearly defined as either serious or comic - romantic and heroic or buffo and silly.  I love singing the noble roles of Belmonte, Tamino, and Don Ottavio because the singing is great.  But I have to admit, I find the characters a little boring, they often are too clearly defined for my taste - one extreme or the other. Could this be because the singers of Mozart's time couldn't do comedy? Perhaps the singers sang and the actors made the situation entertaining? 

Who knows...  but, I like the role of Bastien because he is really a combination of the noble and the silly.  He sings beautiful little arias, but there are also great comic possibilities.  He is kind of like Belmonte and Pedrillo (from the Abduction) combined into one.  I'm looking forward to the beautiful music and a little silliness."

"There were a few important decisions I needed to make while preparing for the role of Colas.  I had to decide if he  will be a strictly comic character, or perhaps the nemesis of the male hero, or simply a wise old man. There is some implied youth to both Bastien and Bastienne, and some implied aged wisdom to Colas.  But how old is he, and is he really a magician or just a crazy old man? 

First movement (Allegro) is immersed in a panorama that changes focal points and distances, while the second (Romanze) is more personal and introspective. The final Rondo 'breaks out' in joy of running through the landscape.

All in all, every time I experience this concerto, it makes me feel like it's been a fine day."